DRS2012 Bangkok Proceedings Vol 4 - Design Research Society

The Opportunity for Design-led Transport Futures
Moving through the sectors in the model enables a systematic consideration of issues
effecting interaction. Table 2 depicts some of the transport related problems faced by
overweight drivers and passengers who may face uncomfortable, unsafe journeys and
discriminatory practices. Larger passengers report feeling stigmatized, with some
economy airlines contemplating a fat tax. Overweight drivers of public transport vehicles
face health consequences (Anderson, 1991) in part due to poor workstation design and
are subject to discriminatory employment practices (Peacock, 2009)). Recognition that
the needs of this population are not accommodated is evidenced by retrofitting of theme
park rides (Niles, 2007) and ambulances. Developing tables such as these are useful in
establishing where changes are needed to improve vehicular and station design and
organizational practice. Similar tables can be developed for each user and for each
sector and for helping design decision making.
Table 2: Example of the personal sector factors
Level of consideration Definitions Overweight bus driver Overweight bus
passenger
Work station
Work place
Work setting
External issues
Immediate task
environment
The wider vehicular
environment
The wider environment
in which the vehicle and
occupant are contained
Wider issues beyond
individual control
Seat design, reach for
primary and secondary
controls; increase in
musculoskeletal s
disorders
Ingress and egress into
cab
Organisational policy
for obese drivers;
provision of healthy
food/exercise breaks
Definition of current
Disability
Discrimination Act
Lack of space to sit
comfortably and safely,
seat belts requiring
extensions
Narrow aisles between
seats
Long distances
required to walk in
transport gateways;
discriminatory practices
Active transport
schemes;
A similar approach can be used to characterize research across a specific transport
sector, such as secondary safety.
Level of
consideration
Work station
Work place
Table 3: Examples of the use of the H-S across a specific sector
Definitions Examples of aspects
considered
Immediate
task
environment
Type of feedback Collision
avoidance
Locus of control
Multimodal presentation of
information on driver
distraction
Usage motivations
The wider
vehicular Situational awareness
Specific details Researchers
Lane departure
prevention
Haptic steering
wheel
Presentation of
traffic information
Advanced driver
assistance
systems
Computer vision
systems
Perez et al, 2009
El Jaafari et al
(2008)
Steele &
Gillespie, 2001
Kaufmann et al,
2008
Werneke et al,
2008
Trivedi et al,
2007
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